Cole spent four years with the Braves, following the team from Boston to Milwaukee before spending a season with the Chicago Cubs. From the Cubs, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Roy Smalley. Upon his trade to Philadelphia in 1955, he is said to have remarked: "That's too bad; they're the only team I can beat."[3] In fact, four of his six career victories came against the Phillies. Coincidentally, the two players died within four days of each other.